Nouns of Common Gender

A relatively small number of nouns ending in -a or -я that denote

people are of “common gender,” i.e., they may be either
masculine or feminine depending on whether, in a particular
context, they refer to a male or a female, e.g., Он большóй
ýмница Не is a very clever person, Онá большáя ýмница She is
a very clever person.

Ýмница - clever person Плáкса – crybaby

Коллéга – colleague
Сиротá – orphan
Бродяга – tramp
Невéжда - ignoramus
Разиня – scatterbrain
Неряха - slob, slovenly person
Обжóра – glutton
Малютка - baby, little one
Одинóчка - lone person
 Gender of Nouns Denoting Professions
Nouns denoting professions or occupations that were once largely dominated by men
are generally of masculine gender. Nevertheless, these nouns are used to refer not only
to men, but also to women who have entered these professions, e.g., Михаил биóлог
и Марина биóлог Michael is a biologist and Marina is a biologist.

Хирýрг - surgeon Геóграф – geographer

Врáч – doctor Картóграф-cartographer
Ветеринáр – veterinarian Архитéктор – architect
Профéссор – professor Космонáвт – cosmonaut
Доцéнт - university lecturer Инженéр – engineer
Адвокáт – lawyer Парикмáхер – hairdresser
Педагóг – teacher Строитель – builder
Биóлог – biologist Секретáрь - secretary
Геóлог - geologist
 Regarding such nouns, there are two facts to remember about gender
agreement.

1.Regardless of whether these nouns denote a male or female, a modifying

adjective normally agrees with the masculine gender of the noun.

Онá хорóший врáч - She is a good doctor

Моя сестрá—извéстный педагóг - My sister is a well-known teacher

2.When these nouns are used with a predicate adjective, or with a verb in the past
tense, the gender form of the adjective or verb is normally determined by the gender
reference of the noun.

With a Predicate Adjective

Экскурсовóд бóлен - The (male) guide is ill
Экскурсовóд больнá - The (female) guide is ill
With a Verb in the Past Tense
Профéссор Иванóв читáл лéкцию - Professor Ivanov read a lecture.
Профéссор Иванóва читáла лéкцию - Professor Ivanova read a lecture
note: The noun судья judge, though feminine in form, is masculine
in gender. Like the other nouns of profession listed above, it may be used to
denote women, but it requires a modifying adjective to have masculine
agreement, e.g., Онá уважáемый судья´ She is a respected judge.

note: The noun человéк person may refer to either a male or female,
but always requires masculine agreement, e.g., Лéна - óчень милый человéк
Lena is a very nice girl.
Choose the form of the adjective in parentheses that agrees
in gender with the noun it modifies.

1.Владимир Ивáнович—________коллéга (нóвый/нóвая)

2.Нóвый учéбник - ___________ профéссор Сергéева. (написáл/написáла)
3.Эта жéнщина - __________судья. (извéстный/извéстная)
4.Ирина Петрóвна - _______инженéр. (óпытный/óпытная)
5.Твóй брáт - ____________неряха. (большóй/большáя)
6.Врáч - __________.Онá консультирует с больным. (зáнят/занятá)

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